Building structure



. 1921' Pate Dec, 5 192 1. H. MILLER.-= BUILDING STRUCTURE.

J. H. MILLER.

BUILDING STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION mzn .MAY 14. 1921.

1,437,946. Patented De0..5,1922..

JOHN HENRY MILLER, or BALTIMORE, raani'tmvn BUILDING STRUCTURE.

Application filed May 14,

T 0 all Z whom it may concern Be it known that I, Join: H. MILLER, a citizen of the United States of America, and

resident of Baltimore, in the county of Bah timore City and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Building Structures, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to building structures and particularly'to a structure adapted especially for use as'a, moving picture the ater; the said invention having as an object the production of a building of this character with special reference to the orchestra floor, having novel means for seating an increased number ofpatrons as compared with buildings of this character now known, while at" the same time, afiording standing room for a large number of patrons approaching the orchestra, and affording furthermore, a view of the screen to those who are standing. By

reason of the arrangement just stated, the advantages accruing from the provision for the range of vision of those standing in order that it includesthe screen, will permit the patrons who are standing to beamused and,

of course, in most instances it will reduce the period of time in which those patrons will occupy the seats, since patrons usually are satisfiedto see the exhibition but once, whether they are sitting or standing.

A further'object of this invention is to produce an orchestra having an elevated rear portion which may extend rearwardly to any practical degree, and it'may extend over store rooms, it on a street, orit may extendover an area occupied by oflices, toilets or smoking rooms, or it may extend over an area providing additional lobby space,

It is furthermore an object of thisinvention to increase the capacity of a theater building of this character without materially adding to the cost of construction, a condition which is accomplished by reason of the fact that the raised portion having the seats has its support of the forward end resting on the orchestra fioor, a condition which re duces expenses of construction as compared with those buildings having a suspended gallery structure.

It is a still further object of this invention to produce a structure of the character indicated in which the elevated portion having the seats is accessible in a manner to obviate the obstruction of the view, to any appreciable extent, of those occupying the seats on 1921. Seria1'No.469,472.

the elevated portion of the structure; and it furthermore contemplates the provision of novel means whereby entrances and exits to the orchestra floor are provided in the cen tral part of the lobby in front of the main entrance door.

With the foregoing and. other objects in View, the invention consists in the detailsoi: construction, and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fullyset forth and claimed.

.In describing the invention in detail, reference will be .had to thewaccompanying drawingsforming part of this application wherein like characters denote corresponding parts in the several views, and in which- Figure 1 illustrates a plan view of the floor of a theater building embodying the invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a horizontal sectional view below theraised portion ofthe structure; and

Figure 3 illustrates a longitudinal sec course'obvious that the uses to which these spaces are put will change under different conditions and localities. The passage-ways 11 and 12lead to the lobby through any suitable enclosure such as 13 and preferably, a ticket booth 14 is interposed between the passages 11 and 12, so that patrons may purchase tickets and pass to the lobby although, if desired, the passages 11 and 12 may be employed as entrance ways or exit ways, according to the requirements of the management.

The orchestra floor is inclined to the usual pitch which will enable the occupants in the rear seats to look over the heads of those immediately in front of them, and there is also an inclination of the floor of the lobby which will enable those standing to have a better view of the screen. The inclined portion of the lobby is identified by the numeral 15, although it may be found in practice that the arrangement of the inclined portion may be increased or diminished to suit particular requirements. Preferably, the lobby has an enclosure 16 extending well inwardly and it preferably terminates back of the last row of orchestra chairs. The enclosure may have suitable exits such as 17 and 18, by which the patrons may pass into the orchestra floor in front of the enclosure, or to the elevated extension 19 ofthe said orchestra floor, the said elevated extension having; two or its wingsQO andQl, preterably terminating near the last row otthe seats on the orchestra floor, with sufiicient room between to form a passage-way for the entrance or exit of? the patrons, and a portion of? the elevated structure for supporting; the seats extends across the lobby from one wing to the other, with sufficient overhead clearance'to permit the patrons to pass under it. The wings20 and 21 are accessible by stairs 22 and 23leading from the corri dor at the sides of the enclosure, and the elevated structure has suitable aisles such as 2% for the passage of patrons,bythe use of which, they may reach the different rows of seats on the elevated portion of the structure. Suitable fire escapes 25 maybe employed at the rear of the elevated structure, and as they may beef any -.appropriate type, they are here but conventionally shown.

reasonof the fact that the inner ends of the wings are anchored on the'orchestra floor, and that the portion of the elevated structure therebetween constitutes-a continuation of the wings, a structure strong enough to support .a relatively fheavyload will be provided in a comparatively simple and in expensive manner, andwith the entrances and exits arranged as indicated, a large number of? persons can be accommodatedin less time than with present .methods "of con struction.

While I have described this structure as for use particularly for motion picture thear ters, it is to be understoodthat the inventor does not wish to be restricted with respect to such use, and theaters and zpublieihalls or private structures could be built in accordance with this invention, although it has its greatest utility in the production of a hall or auditorium for usein performances or exhibitions.

A distinction must be made between the front of the building and the front of the auditorium or orchestra, since, of course, the front of the buildin is that part which has the store rooms, whereas the'tront of the orchestra is toward the screen; hence, the elevated floor is inclined toward the front of the orchestra and away from the iront of the structure.

I claim:

1. A building structure having a main floor with a lobby at its rear, an.elc=.'ated structure suitably supported from the .inain floor adapted to contain seats, the floor oi the lobby being inclined to the main floor, the said elevated structure hayingside wii extending: toa point nearseats on the main floor, and the said wingsbeing connected by a. portion overlying the lobby.

Afbuilding structure having an orchestra. floor and alobby in the rear thereof, compartments on each side of the lobby, an elevated extension otthe-orchestra floor projecting over the compartments,and the said lobby having'an 'inclined'floor leading to the orchestra fioorystairs on each side :of

I the lobby leading to the said elevated portion, and an enclosure having entrance and exit openings located on thezinchned'floor oi: the lobby. I

A building structure havingxan-entranoe lobby and compartments :for stores on "ea-ch side of the lobby,;an .elevatedifioor'structure extending over the lobby andthe' said'cornpartnients, and extending downwardly on; an incline, an orchestra. floor beyond; the lobby, the said orchestra floor and lobby being inclined, and stairs oneach side oi thelobby from the lobby floor to the front of said elevated portion ofthe. floor,

JGHN HENRY MILLER. 

